Mason&#39;s wheelbarrow



Oct. 18, 1966 c. R. ASHWORTH 3,279,810

MAsoN's WHEELBARROW Filed May 7, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 18, 1966 C. R. AsHwoRTH MASON'S WHEELBARROW 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 7, 1964 United States Patent O 3,279,810 MASNS WHEELBARROW Carl R. Ashworth, 1 SE. 51st St., Oklahoma City, Okla. Filed May 7, 1964, Ser. No. 365,630 S Claims. (Cl. 280-47.3)

This invention relates generally to improvements in wheelbarrows used for carrying bricks, rocks, concrete blocks, and similar materials during construction operations. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, this invention relates to a dual purpose attachment for use in conjunction with masons wheelbarrows.

The most popular form of a masons wheelbarrow constructed in the past includes a wood frame carrying a single wheel at or near one end of the frame, and a generally planar platform, also constructed of wood, mounted on the upper surface of the frame. Some wheelbarrows also include a vertically extending member or plate mounted near the front end of the platform to prevent loose materials from slipping off the wheelbarrow.

wheelbarrows constructed in this manner have generally proved to be adequate for transporting most materials used in construction.

In recent years, however, brick manufacturers have begun to bind bricks in bundles of `one hundred bricks. In order to facilitate handling the heavy bundles, openings are provided by leaving out one or more bricks in each of the bundles. Construction personnel receiving the bundles either have to break them into individual bricks for handling or attempt to load the heavy bundles onto wheelbarrows. Due to the size and shape of the bundles, the weight of the bundle is distributed in an undesirable fashion if the vertical member is left on the wheelbarrow and the-bundle positioned by abutting it against such vertical member. If the vertical member is removed, the bundles have a tendency to slip off the wheelbarrow.

Several different forms of wheelbarrows have been developed to facilitate handling the bricks. Each is provided with at least two wheels and each includes some form of spaced projections extending from the load platform for insertion into openings in the bundles of brick. These wheelbarrows are generally unsatisfactory even though they do provide a better means of carrying the brick bundles. The two-wheel construction is completely unsatisfactory where the wheelbarrow is to be used over rough ground, such as is the usual case around construction projects. For example, if one wheel strikes an vobstruction, the heavily loaded wheelbarrow will pivot violently endangering the operator and those about. Furthermore, such wheelbarrows cannot be conveniently used in general purpose work or for handling loose bricks after the bundles are broken. Neither are they satisfactory for handling loose rock or blocks.

wheelbarrows last for many years and construction companies have many on hand. It is not economically sound to purchase wheelbarrows that can be used for only one purpose. Even if the wheelbarrows can be utilized for general purpose work, the companies are faced with the problem of replacing the vast number of wheelbarrows on hand in order to gain the ability to more conveniently handle bundles of brick.

This invention generally contemplates an improved masons wheelbarrow that includes a single wheel journaled on the wheelbarrow frame, a load-carrying platform mounted on the frame, a frame attached to the -wheelbarrow frame carrying a pair of spaced members that extend upwardly therefrom for insertion into the openings in a brick bundle, and a removable, vertically extending wall portion supported by such spaced mem- 3,279,810 Patented Oct. 18, 1966 lCC bers, for use when the wheelbarrow is to carry loose rocks, etc.

In another aspect of this invention, it is generally contemplated to provide a dual purpose attachment for existing masons wheelbarrows that includes an attachment frame for mounting the dual purpose attachment on the wheelbarrow frame, a pair of spaced members on the attachment frame projecting therefrom for engagement with brick bundles, and a removable, vertically extending wall portion supported by the spaced members, for

carrying loose rocks, etc.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved masons wheelbarrow that can be safely and conveniently used for carrying either bundles of bricks or loose rocks, etc.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved masons wheelbarrow that can be easily and economically manufactured.

A further object of lthe invention .is to provide an improved masons wheebarrow ,that caribe easily and quickly converted from an varrangement for carrying brick rbundles to an arrangement for carrying loose rocks, etc., and vice versa.

Still another object ofthe invention is to provide an attachment for converting a common masons wheelbarrow into one adapted for handling either bundles of -bricks or loose rocks, etc.

A still further object of the invention is to vprovide an attachment for a common masons wheelbarrow that can -be quickly and easily installed.

yOne other object `of the invention is .to provide an attachment for a common masons wheelbarrow that can be economically manufactured and that requires little or no maintenance during use.

The foregoing and additional objects and advantages vof the invention will become more apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with .the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters .denote like parts in all views, and wherein:

FIG. l is a .pictorial View of a common masons wheelbarrow having the brick bundle-carrying attachment installed thereon;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the attachment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of the attachment of FIGS. l and 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation View of the wheelbarrow of FIG. l, illustrating its use in conjunction with a bound bundle of bricks; and,

FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of the wheelbarrow of FIG. 1, showing the installation of the removable attachment for carrying loose rocks :and bricks thereon.

Referring to the drawings, -and to FIGS. l, 2 and 3 in particular, shown therein and generally designated by ythe reference character 10, is a wheelbarrow constructed in accordance with the invention. The wheelbarrow 10 includes a pair of diverging longitudinal frame members 12 which are joined at the front or near end by afcross-.mem- -ber 14. The opposite ends of the longitudinal frame members 12 are shaped to form a pair of gripping handles 16. A load-carrying platform 1'8 is mounted on the upper surfaceof the longitudinal frame members 12. Pillow block bearings 20 are mounted on the lower -surface of the longitudinal frame members 12 just behind the cross-member 14. A shaft 22 extends through the bear- .ings 20 and axially through a wheel 24 torotatably `support the wheel. A generally U-shaped leg member 26 is mounted on the lower surface of each of the 'longitudinally extending frame members 12, relatively near the handles 16. While only one of the leg members 26 can be seen in the drawing, an identical leg member is provided on the opposite frame 4member and is interconnected with the visible leg member 26 by means of a crossmember 28. The arrangement of the leg members 26 and the wheel 24 is such that when the wheelb-arrow 10 is permitted to rest on the ground, a three-point suspension is provided thereby.

A brick-carrying attachment 30 is illustrated as being installed on the wheelbarrow in FIG. 1. FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the brick-carrying attachment in more detail. As shown therein, the brick-carrying -attachment 30 includes a frame 32 having a pair of longitudinally extending divergent members 34 which are arranged to extend in a generally parallel relationship with the divergent frame members 12. The near or close ends of the frame members 34 are connected by a cross-member 36. A U- shaped frame portion 38 extends downwardly from the frame members 34 and is adapted to engage the crossmem-ber 14 of the frame 12 to support the longitudinally extending frame members 34 in a position wherein the upper surface thereof will be generally coplanar with the upper surface of the frame members 12. A cross-member 40, which is illustrated as being constructed from a rectangular tube, is mounted on the upper surface of the frame members 34 and extends thereacross generally above the cross-member 36. A pair of cross-members 42 and 44 are also mounted on the upper surface of the frame members 34 and are disposed between the crossmember 40 and the load platform 18. The innermost ends of the cross-members 42 and 44 are connected with the cross-member 40 by means of longitudinally extending mernbmers 46 and 48. A load-carrying plate 50 extends over the cross-members 40, 42 and 44, and has its rear end portion 52 resting on a portion of the load platform 18. The plate 50 is preferably formed from expanded metal because of its light weight and durability, but obviously it can be formed from a solid plate or from wooden planks if desired. A pair of parallel, spaced members 54 extend upwardly from the frame members 34 through the plate 50. The purpose of the parallel, spaced members 54 will be explained more fully hereinafter.

The brick-carrying attachment 30 can be quickly and easily installed on the wheelbarrow 1t) by fastening the divergent frame members 34 to the frame members 12 by fasteners 55 as shown in FIG. 3. The frame members 34 are fastened in such a position that the lower portion of the U-shaped member 38 carried by the attachment frame will rest on the cross-member 14 extending between the wheelbarrow frame member 12. The lower portion of the U-shaped member 38 may be attached to the crossmember 14 by screws or bolts, or other suitable fastening means if desired.

As previously mentioned, bricks are now generally supplied by the Ibrick manufacturers in bundles of one hundred bricks. The method of utilizing the wheelbarrow 10 with brick-carrying attachment 3l) mounted thereon is clearly illustrated in FIG. 4. As shown therein, the wheelbarrow 10 is raised to a vertical position, i.e., with the front end thereof resting on the ground, and the parallel, spaced members 54 are inserted in openings 56 provided in a bundle of bricks 58. The operator of the wheelbarrow 10 then grasps the handles 16 and pivots the wheelbarrow 10 about the cross-member 14 to a generally .horizontal or carrying position as illustrated by the dash lines in FIG. 4. To move the load of bricks from one location to the other, the handles 16 are lifted by the operator to raise the legs 26 from the ground and then the wheelbarrow moved in the usual manner from one position to the other. It should be pointed out that the provision of an attachment mounted on a Wheelbarrow having one wheel provides the advantage of greater maneuverability and eliminates the dangerous pivoting when moving over rough ground, as previously pointed out. With the-parallel, spaced members 54 extending into the openings 56 in the brick bundle 58, it can be appreciated that the bundle 58 will be securely retained on the wheelbarrow 10 and there will be no danger of the bricks sliding from the load platform.

FG. 5 illustrates a loose rockor brick-carrying attachment 6i) which is removably positioned on the brick-carrying attachment 30. As shown therein, the attachment 60 includes a generally rectangular frame 62 which includes a pair of horizontally extending members 64 and a pair of vertically extending members 66 which are connected with the members 64. A pair of parallel, spaced members 68 are attached to the frame 62 and are arranged to cooperate With the parallel, spaced members 54 on the attachment 30 to support the attachment 60 thereon in a plane generally perpendicular to the surface of the load platform 1S. As illustrated, the members 68 are of tubular construction and are adapted to telescope over the members 54 of the attachment 30. A plate 70, which is illustrated as being constructed from expanded metal, is attached to the frame 62.

When it is desired to carry loose rocks or bricks, etc., on the wheelbarrow 10, the attachment 60 is slipped over the members 54 on the attachment 30 so that the attachment 60 is rigidly supported thereon. Loose rocks, such as the rocks '72 illustrated in FIG. 5, are loaded on the load platform 18 against the plate 70 of the attachment 60. When the rear end of the wheelbarrow 10 is elevated to move the wheelbarrow from one location to the other, it will be apparent that the loose rocks on the load platform 18 will be supported by engagement with the plate 70 and prevented from sliding off the wheelbarrow 10.

From the foregoing, it can be appreciated that the attachment 30 provides a simple means of converting a oommon masons wheelbarrow into `a device useful for handling the brick bundles 58. By use of the attachment 60, the wheelbarrow can be easily and quickly converted from a device for handling the bundles of brick into a Wheelbarrow that is capable of handling loose rocks, etc., or that may be used for general purpose work. The provision of the attachments 30 and 60 provides a means by which contractors can economically convert the many masons wheelbarrows which they have on hand into devices useful for the above-mentioned purposes.

It should be understood that the embodiment described herein is by way of example only and that many changes and modications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim is: 1. A masons wheelbarrow comprising: -a Wheelbarrow frame including a pair of elongated frame members, one end portion of each of said frame members being disposed in relatively close proximity and being divergent therefrom toward the other ends, and a cross member extending between the proximate end portions of said elongated frame members; a wheel journaled in said frame and disposed relatively between said proximate end portions; a supporting means depending from said frame; a platform on said frame disposed generally between said wheel and supporting means; and, a brick-carrying attachment including an attachment frame mounted on said wheelbarrow frame, said attachment frame including a pair of attachment frame members arranged i-n juxtaposition with said elongated frame members and attached thereto, and a cross member depending from and extending between said attachment frame members and supported by the cross member in said wheelbarrow frame, a plate mounted on said attachment frame and having a portion thereof supported by said platform, and

a pair of parallel, spaced members extending upwardly from said attachment adapted to engage a bound quantity of bricks. 2. The wheelbarrow of claim 1 and also including a a pair of divergent frame members adapted for -attachment to the wheelbarrow frame, and

a cross-member depending from and extending between the convergent ends of said divergent rockand block-supporting attachment comprising: 5 frame members adapted for support by the a supporting frame; wheelbarrow frame; a plate disposed on said supporting frame; and, a plate mounted on said attachment frame and adapted a pair of parallel, spaced members attached to said to be partially supported by the platform when the frame, said members being sized to engage the paralbrick-carrying attachment is installed on the masons lel, spaced members on said attachment frame where- 10 wheelbarrow; and, by said rock-supporting attachment is disposed gena pair of parallel, spaced members extending upwardly erally perpendicularly with respect to said platform from said attachment frame. for supporting la quantity of rocks or blocks placed 5. A dual purpose attachment for .a masons wheelon said platform. barrow having one wheel, a frame, and a platform, the 3. A masons wheelbarrow comprising: -attachment comprising: a Wheelb arrow frame including: a brick-carrying attachment including: ia pair of divergent, elongated frame members, and an attachment frame having: a cross-member extending between the convergent a pair of divergent frame members adapted ends of said elongated frame members; for attachment to the wheelbarrow frame, a wheel journaled in the convergent ends of said elonand gated frame members; :a cross-member depending from and extenda pair of supporting legs depending from said wheeling between the convergent ends of said dibarrow frame; vergent frame members adapted for support a platform mounted on said elongated frame members by the wheelbarrow frame,

generally between said wheel -and supporting legs; an expanded metal plate mounted on said attachment a brick-carrying attachment mounted on said wheelframe and adapted to be partially supported by the barrow including: platform when the brick-carrying attachment is inan attachment frame having a pair of frame memstalled on the masons wheelbarrow, and

bers arranged in juxtaposition with said elongata pair of parallel, spaced .tubular members extending ed frame members and attached thereto, and a upwardly from said attachment frame; and cross-member depending from and extending bea rockand block-supporting attachment including: tween the convergent ends of said frame mema supporting frame having: bers and supported by the cross-member in said a pair of parallel, spaced members, and wheelbarrow frame, a pair of parallel, spaced cross-members exa pair of parallel, spaced tubular members extendtending between respective ends of said ing upwardly from said attachment frame mcmspaced members, bers, and an expanded metal plate mounted on said supportan expanded metal plate mounted on said attaching frame, and

ment frame and having .a portion thereof supa pair of spaced tubular members mounted `011 said ported by said platform; and, frame and sized to releasably engage said tubula rockand lblock-supporting attachment including: lar, upwardly extending members on said bricka supporting frame having a pair of parallel, carrying attachment whereby said rock-supportspaced members, and a pair of parallel, ing attachment is disposed generally perpendicspaced cross-members extending between ularly to the plate on said brick-carrying attachthe respective ends of said parallel, spaced ment. members, an expanded metal plate mounted on said sup- References Cited by le Examiner PC I'UD? ffm, and b d d UNITED STATES PATENTS a grlg trrmidejrrggetooles; 501,314 7/1893 Arnold 28o-47.3 movably engaged with the tubular members 2700573 1/1955 Nordgard 280.4727 X on said yattachment frame whereby Said 2,721,086 10/ 1955 Gorley etal 28o-47.29 rock-supporting attachment is disposed gen- 2814402 11/1957 Schaefer 2804729 X erally perpendicularly with respect to said 218181988 1/1958 Dunkin 214-384 platform 2,869,886 1/ 1959 Wardell 280-47.28 X 4. A brick-carrying attachment for a masons wheel. 3,104,890 9/1963 Hill 28047.18

barrow having one wheel, a frame, and a platform on the frame, the attachment comprising:

an attachment frame having:

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner. J. A. PEKAR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MASON''S WHEELBARROW COMPRISING: A WHEELBARROW FRAME INCLUDING A PAIR OF ELONGATED FRAME MEMBERS, ONE END PORTION OF EACH OF SAID FRAME MEMBERS BEING DISPOSED IN RELATIVELY CLOSE PROXIMITY AND BEING DIVERGENT THEREFROM TOWARD THE OTHER ENDS, AND A CROSS MEMBER EXTENDING BETWEEN THE PROXIMATE END PORTIONS OF SAID ELONGATED FRAME MEMBERS; A WHEEL JOURNALED IN SAID FRAME AND DISPOSED RELATIVELY BETWEEN SAID PROXIMATE END PORTIONS; A SUPPORTING MEANS SEPENDING FROM SAID FRAME; A PLATFORM ON SAID FRAME DISPOSED GENERALLY BETWEEN SAID WHEEL AND SUPPORTING MEANS; AND, A BRICK-CARRYING ATTACHMENT INCLUDING AN ATTACHMENT FRAME MOUNTED ON SAID WHEELBARROW FRAME, SAID ATTACHMENT FRAME INCLUDING A PAIR OF ATTACHMENT FRAME MEMBERS ARRANGED IN JUXTAPOSITION WITH SAID ELONGATED FRAME MEMBERS AND ATTACHED THERETO, AND A CROSS MEMBER DEPENDING FROM AND EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID ATTACHMENT FRAME MEMBERS AND SUPPORTED BY THE CROSS MEMBER IN SAID WHEELBARROW FRAME, A PLATE MOUNTED ON SAID ATTACHMENT FRAME AND HAVING A PORTION THEREOF SUPPORTED BY SAID PLATFORM, AND A PAIR OF PARALLEL, SPACED MEMBERS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID ATTACHMENT ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A BOUND QUANTITY OF BRICKS. 